Wireless Blow Dryer

ABSTRACT

A new and improved wireless hair dryer includes a housing, a battery, a fan, a motor, wherein the fan is operatively connected to the motor, a heating element, wherein the fan, the motor, and the heating element are contained within the housing, wherein the heating element and the motor are operatively connected to and are powered entirely by the battery, and a control switch.

This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/893,986, filed Mar. 9, 2007, entitled Hair Care Products, which is herein incorporated by reference.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to hair care products, and even more particularly to products used in styling hair, and even more particularly to a wireless, battery-powered blow dryer.

B. Description of the Related Art

Currently, products used by hair stylists, which require power, have power cords attached to them, and are plugged into outlets. For example, both curling irons and hair dryers have power cords to supply electrical power.

The hair dryer dries your hair by speeding up the evaporation of water from the hair's surface. The hot air emitted from a hair dryer increases the temperature of the air surrounding each strand of hair. Since warm air can contain more moisture than air at room temperature, more water can move from your hair into the air. The increase in temperature also makes it easier for the individual molecules in a water droplet to overcome their attraction to one another and move from a liquid to a gas state.

Hair dryers were first sold in the 1920s. Since then, thousands of patents have been issued for different hair dryer designs, but most of them only tweak the outside packaging of the hairdryer so that it looks more aesthetically appealing to you. Aside from the addition of some safety features, the inside of a hair dryer hasn't changed too much over the years.

Hair dryers use the motor-driven fan and the heating coil to transform electric energy into convective heat. The whole mechanism is really simple: When you plug in the hair dryer and turn the switch to “on,” current flows through the hair dryer. The circuit first supplies power to the bare, coiled wire of the heating element, which becomes hot. The current then makes the small electric motor spin, which turns the fan. The airflow generated by the fan is directed down the barrel of the hairdryer, over and through the heating element. As the air flows over and through the heated coil, heat rising from the coil warms the air by forced convection. The hot air streams out the end of the barrel.

The fan in a hair dryer uses electrical energy to generate airflow. The small motor actually sits inside the fan, which is firmly attached to the tip of the motor. When you supply power to the motor, the motor and the attached fan both spin. The centrifugal movement of the fan draws air in through the small round air inlets in the side casing of the hair dryer. These holes are covered by a safety screen that prevents other objects (such as strands of your hair) from being sucked in as well. The air is then blown down the barrel of the hair dryer. Most hair dryers have high and low airflow settings. This is accomplished very simply, by altering the current flowing through the part of the circuit feeding the motor. When the power supplied is low, the motor and thus the fan spin slowly. Less air is pushed through the hair dryer. With more power, the motor speeds up. The fan rotates rapidly, drawing in more air and increasing the airflow.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for wireless, battery-powered blow dryer. The difficulties inherit in the art are therefore overcome in a way that is simple and efficient, while providing better and more advantageous results.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a hair dryer is run via battery power.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the hair dryer has a sponge-like grip for ease of use, and comfort.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a wireless hair dryer includes a housing, at least one battery, at least one fan, at least one motor, wherein the fan is operatively connected to the motor, a heating element, wherein the fan, the motor, and the heating element are contained within the housing, wherein the heating element and the motor are operatively connected to and are powered entirely by the battery, and a control switch.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the battery is either replaceable or rechargeable.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the hair dryer further includes at least one battery slot, at least one air discharge, and at least one temperature control device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the hair dyer further includes a handle, a body portion, wherein the handle and the body portion are substantially perpendicular to each other, and a grip, wherein the grip substantially covers the handle, and the grip is made of a resiliently deformable material.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable between approximately 250° F. and approximately 500° F.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the battery is a lithium ion iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the dryer further comprises a cool down button.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a hair dryer includes a housing, at least one battery, at least one fan, at least one motor, wherein the fan is operatively connected to the motor, at least one heating element, wherein the fan, the motor, and the heating element are contained within the housing, wherein the heating element and the motor are operatively connected to and are powered entirely by the battery, at least one control switch, at least one battery slot, at least one air discharge, at least one temperature control device, wherein the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable, a handle, a body portion, and a grip, wherein the grip substantially covers the handle, and the grip is made of a resiliently deformable material.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a wireless hair dryer apparatus includes a hair dryer stand for holding the dryer when not in use, the stand containing a charging device for the battery.

Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, at least one embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the inventive hair dryer;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the hair dryer;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the battery;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the battery;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the stand and battery charger; and,

FIG. 6 shows a cut away view of the hair dryer, showing the inside of the dryer.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to at least one embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 1-6 show a wireless, battery-operated blow dryer 10. The dryer 10 has a battery 12, a handle 14, a grip 16, a cool down button 18, a control button 20, a temperature dial 22, a housing 24, an air discharge 26, a fan housing 28, a fan 42, a motor 44, and a heating element 46. The handle 14, in this embodiment, is connected to the housing/body portion 24 at approximately a 90° angle, although it is to be understood that the angle of the connection is not critical to the invention. The cool down button 18 operates by shutting off the heating element 46, so that the dryer 10 only blows room temperature air. The control switch 20, in this embodiment, is the on/off button, along with the speed control, although it is to be understood that the control switch 20 could take any form related to control functions, as long as chosen using sound engineering judgment. The temperature dial 22 (or temperature control device) allows the user to vary the temperature of the dryer 10 as desired. The motor 44 is operatively connected to the fan 42, and the motor 44 is in operation, the fan 42 blows air forward through the housing 24 and out the air discharge 26. The heating element 46 and the motor 44 are operatively connected to the battery 12. The dial 22 which ranges in temperature from 250° F. to 500° F., can be designed to vary between any temperature ranges chosen using sound engineering judgment, making it easy to determine the right heat for the hair. In one embodiment of the invention, the dial 22 is infinitely, variably controllable.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-6, the blow dryer 10, in this embodiment, is powered by two batteries 12, each lasting eight hours, which are made of lithium ion iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) (although it is to be understood that any type of power source could be used to provide power, as long as chosen using sound engineering judgment). The battery 12 has a positive node 32 and a negative node 34. The operation of batteries 12, heating elements 46, motors 44, and fans 42 are all well known in the art, and will not be further described herein. It is also to be understood that any number of batteries 12 can be used, as long as chosen using sound engineering judgment. A typical blow dryer requires 1,500 watts, although Yet Ming Thiang, a professor at the College of MIT, has designed a battery which pushes 3,000 watts. The heating element 46 and motor 44 operate entirely from the battery 12, and do not have an additional power source. The power cord 38 is only for the battery charger 36.

The blow dryer 10 comes with two batteries 12 each with a lifespan of eight hours. There is a stand/battery charger 36 that charges the batteries 12. The stand/charger 36 has a cradle 40 for the battery 12, and the stand/charger 36 has a power cord 38. In this embodiment, the blow dryer 10 also has the ability to blow cool air. In another embodiment, the blow dryer 10′ has no handle, as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the dryer 10′ is substantially horizontal and the dryer 10′ is designed to be gripped in the middle. The dryer 10′ also has a nozzle 30 which serves as the air discharge. In one embodiment, the handle 14 has a sponge-like grip 16 making it easy to hold. The spongy grip 16 also helps relieve the pressure from the fingers, hand, and wrist, which helps prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis in the metacarpus, phalanges, ulna, and radius. The grip 16 can be utilized on dryer 10′ as well, as shown in FIG. 2.

It is to be understood that it is within the scope of this invention to include any manner of power source for the above embodiments, as long as chosen using sound engineering judgment. It is also to be understood that any material can be used in the above embodiments, as long as chosen using sound engineering judgment.

At least one embodiment has been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 

1. A wireless hair dryer comprising: a housing; at least one battery; at least one fan; at least one motor, wherein the fan is operatively connected to the motor; at least one heating element, wherein the fan, the motor, and the heating element are contained within the housing, wherein the heating element and the motor are operatively connected to and are powered entirely by the battery; and, at least one control switch.
 2. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the battery is either replaceable or rechargeable.
 3. The dryer of claim 2, wherein the battery is rechargeable.
 4. The hair dryer of claim 2, wherein the hair dryer further comprises: at least one battery slot; an air discharge; and, at least one temperature control device.
 5. The hair dryer of claim 4, wherein the hair dyer further comprises: a handle; a body portion, wherein the handle and the body portion are substantially perpendicular to each other; and, a grip, wherein the grip substantially covers the handle, and the grip is made of a resiliently deformable material.
 6. The hair dryer of claim 4, wherein the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable.
 7. The hair dryer of claim 6, wherein the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable between approximately 250° F. and approximately 500° F.
 8. The hair dryer of claim 4, wherein the battery is a lithium ion iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery.
 9. The hair dryer of claim 4, wherein the dryer further comprises a cool down button.
 10. A hair dryer comprising: a housing; a battery; a fan; a motor, wherein the fan is operatively connected to the motor; a heating element, wherein the fan, the motor, and the heating element are contained within the housing, wherein the heating element and the motor are operatively connected to and are powered entirely by the battery; a control switch; a battery slot; an air discharge; a temperature control device, wherein the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable; a handle; a body portion; and, a grip, wherein the grip substantially covers the handle, and the grip is made of a resiliently deformable material.
 11. The hair dryer of claim 10, wherein the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable between approximately 250° F. and approximately 500° F.
 12. The hair dryer of claim 11, wherein the battery is a lithium ion iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery.
 13. A wireless hair dryer apparatus comprising: a housing; at least one battery; at least one fan; at least one motor, wherein the fan is operatively connected to the motor; at least one heating element, wherein the fan, the motor, and the heating element are contained within the housing, wherein the heating element and the motor are operatively connected to and are powered entirely by the battery; at least one control switch; and, a hair dryer stand for holding the dryer when not in use, the stand containing a charging device for the battery.
 14. The dryer of claim 13, wherein the battery is either rechargeable.
 15. The hair dryer of claim 13, wherein the hair dryer further comprises: a battery slot; an air discharge; and, a temperature control device.
 16. The hair dryer of claim 15, wherein the hair dyer further comprises: a handle; a body portion, wherein the handle and the body portion are substantially perpendicular to each other; and, a grip, wherein the grip substantially covers the handle, and the grip is made of a resiliently deformable material.
 17. The hair dryer of claim 15, wherein the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable.
 18. The hair dryer of claim 17, wherein the temperature control device is infinitely variably controllable between approximately 250° F. and approximately 500° F.
 19. The hair dryer of claim 13, wherein the battery is a lithium ion iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery.
 20. The hair dryer of claim 13, wherein the dryer further comprises a cool down button. 